Bichali Sri Appannacharya-Book Review

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Bichali Sri Appannacharya

 

By Sri Jayasimha

(Sri Tirumala Hari Vittaladasaru)

 

Book Review by : Mohan Chippagiri

 

Sri Appannacharya's name has become a house hold name in the houses of all Madhwas. When we recite Sri Raghavendra Swamiji’s Guru Stotra "Sri Poorna Bodha….." written by Sri Appannacharya we remember Shri Acharya with reverence. He is a great soul who has bought laurels to our community. Sri Jayasimha(Sri Tirumala Hari Vittaladasaru) has come out with an excellent book in Kannada on Appannacharya titled Bichali Sri Appannacharya and this book has the anugrha sandesha by Sri Sushmeendra Teertha Sripadanagalavaru of Sri Rayara Math. In the first few pages the author has explained about the Bichali grama and has vividly narrated on how to reach Bichali. This book starts with Sri Tirumala Hari Vittala’s Dasara kruthi which goes like “Guruvarya Toru Arya Appana………â€

 

He has given explanation about how the name Bichali came to being and he has given a brief description about Bichali.

 

The Bichali is the sacred place where great Haridasaru like Sri Vijayadasaru, Sri Gopaladasaru, Sri Jagannatha Dasaru and Madhwa Yathigalu like Sri Sripada Rajaru, Sri Jeethamithraru and Sri Vibudendra Thirtharu visited Bichali village The author has clearly explained about the purpose of Sri Sripada Rajaru's visit to Bichali . The Bichali is located at the other end of the Tungabhadra river which belongs to the Raichur district of Karnataka and Mantralaya is situated at another end and belongs to Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh.

 

The author has described in brief about the birth of Sri Appannacharya. There is a small story on Sri Avadhootharu and how Sri Avadhootharu reformed into a Yathigalu from his previsous lavish living. The words exchanged between Sri Appanacharya and Avadootharu is wonderful. In this book there are many krtuthis of our Haridasaru on Shri Rayaru.

 

“Jappada Katti†is located on the banks of Tungabhadra river and is a sacred place where Sri Sripadarajaru planted a “Ashwath Vrukshaâ€. On this “Japada Katti†Rayaru taught Sri Madhwa Charya's Philosophy to Shri Appannacharya. Lot of discussions and meetings had taken place on this Katti. The author has spendidly described their meetings. There is a small house where Shri Appannacharya lived. In

that house Shri Rayaru used to do Ramadevara Puje and used to take rest in that house. Here Rayaru spent more than 10 years in Bichali. There is a small story about Sesha Devaru also and you can enjoy while reading that story in this book.

 

The author has described how Bichali became famous for the preachings of Sri Madhwacharya’s philosophy to many of the students who came there from the neighbouring palces to learn the sacred dwaitha philosophy.

 

One more historic event is that Sri Vyasarajaru visted the Bichali grama and installed Sri Pranadevaru written in Angara which clearly indicates that Sri Vyasarajaru will take birth as Rayaru in the next avathara.

 

Sri Appannacharya, in his previous birth was known as Aahlada the brother of Sri Prahaldarajaru. In the book there is a story on how Venkanna became a Diwan of Adoni and also how Rayaru blessed the Adoni Navab and how Adoni Navab surrended at the feet of Rayaru. These incidents are narrated very well by the author.

 

The Rayaru intended to nominate Sri Appannacharya as the Uttaraadhikari to the Math and advised him to keep away from chewing tabacco. But Shri Acharya after listening to Shri Rayaru told him that it is not possible to stop eating it and also told Shri Rayaru that he has became a slave of it. After hearing from this Rayaru kept quite.

 

The climax of the book is very interesting and heart touching and it will bring tears in our eyes after reading it. When Rayaru decides to enter Brindavana “Sa_shareera†he told Appanna to go to Bichali and come back to Mantralaya after finishing the Job. He told Vennkanna to construct a Brindavana for him. Shri Venkanna dutifully constructed a beautiful Brindavana for Shri Rayaru. After seeing the Brindavana Shri Rayaru told Venkanna that this Brindavana is not for him and that he also instructed to

construct a new Brindavana out the stone where Shri Prahalada Rajaru performed Yagna and he also told him to bring the stone where Sri Rama had taken rest for a while sitting on it. Shri Venkanna brought that stone from the village Madhwavaram near Mantralyam and constructed the Brindavana.

 

Rayaru installed Pranadevaru and Rudra Devaru in front of the Brindavana. The dialoges between Venkanna and Rayaru is heart touching. Shri Venkanna's behaviour is excellent and there is no words to mention about their beautiful relationship between a master and a servant. Rayaru nominated Sri Yogiendra Thirtharu as his Uttaraadikari.

 

When the time came and every thing was ready Rayaru entered the Brindavana "Sa-shareera" on Shravana Masa, Varsharuthu Bidige. On the directions of Shri Rayaru his disciples had kept 700 Saligramas and Mrithika and as soon as Shri Rayaru entered the Brindavana, they closed the Brindavana by placing a slab on top of it. Soon the news spread like a fire and reached Shri Appannacharya also was in Bichali at the time of Shri Rayaru entering the Brindavana. He was not able to digest the news started

weeping and was not able to control his emotions. Immediately he started towards Mantralaya on the other of side of the river Tungabhadra which was flowing full. There was heavy rain. As the intention of Shri Appanacharya was to reach Mantralaya as early as possible, he did not even notice that the river is flowing full and stared to recite the great stothra "SriPoornabodha …" and reached at the Brindavana the last slab was closed on it and Appanacharya stood silently weeping and he stopped and he could not utter anything his agony had no bounds. All those who were present there were watching him and thinking about the great realationship

between Rayaru and Appanna in their minds. When Shri Appannacharya could not continue the stothra and stood still there came the voice the Shri Rayaru from the Brindavana "SAAKSHI HAYASTOTRAHI†indicating that the stothra has the blessing of Shri Hayagreeva Devaru and that every described in the Stothra are true to the letter and spirit. Everybody was astonished including the great Appannachaarya. The description is beautifully written by the author.

 

After few days Shri Appannacharya went o Bichali and stayed there. He used to visit the Rayaru Brindavana everyday. As he became older he was not able to visit Rayaru Brindavana regularly. One night when he was fast asleep, Shri Rayaru came in his dreams and told Appanna that you are becoming old to visit me regulary and that he should construct a Brindavana on the Japadakatii where they used to sit and chat so that

he can see Rayaru there only. Next day morning when Appanna woke up he was happy with the dream and he constructed the small Brindavana with Ekasila on the banks of river Thungabhadra and this is the first Mrithika Brindavana of Shri Rayaru. Till today Rayara Aradhane is celebrated at this place.

 

Sri Appanacharya has written many Kruthis and granthas but many of them have been lost in the Tunga floods. Only Sri Raghavendrta Stotra, Sri Raghavendra Mangalastaka, Sri Raghavendra Kavacha, Sri Raghavendra Gadhya, Sri Raghavendra Japakrama and Sri Raghavendra Astothara Shatanamavali are available. Three Years after Shri Rayaru entered the Brindavana, Sri Appannacharya reached the Haripada .

 

The Highlight of the book is the complete meaning of the Guru Stotra given therein and that the author has given Padacheda for the Slokas so that average Kannada reading person can be able to recite the stothra easily.

 

This book is worth reading. Many beautiful photographs of Bichali are printed and Stotras are printed. The author has taken lot of pains in bringing this book to us and he should be appreciated and encouraged for his commendable job in bringing this edition on the great disciple of Rayaru . The DTP work has neatly been done by K.Subbanna and my pranamas to Hari Vayu Gurugalu for giving this opportunity to write a review on this book. This book is published by Parimala Prakashana and is priced at Rs 80 and is available in all leading book shops in

Bangalore or you can reach the author at the following number 080-22428060

 

 

||barathi ramana mukhya pranantargata srikrishnarpanamastu||

 

!!! Prathamo Hanuman Nama, Dvitiyo Bhimayevacha,

Purnapragnya Tritiyasto Bhagavatkaryasadhaka !!!

Mohan Chippagiri MCA

Lecturer in Computer Science

Bangalore

 

 

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